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Today is December 1st…wow! In 24 days we will be celebrating Christmas, and in 30 days New Years Eve. This year has been a whirlwind of events, travel, friends, family, and blessings. I’m sad to see this so quickly, but I’m definitely looking forward to 2012. In a few weeks Dr. B and I will sit down and review our goals that we made during the beginning of the year. We knocked a few out of the park, and others we fell somewhat short. Which I can live with because the real lesson comes from the actual planning, and the process of striving towards the goal.

Screenshot of our 2011 goal spreadsheet

One milestone I’m happy to say that I’ve completed is starting my business, NataMari Designs. I’ve been busy working on my designs, adding content to my new blog, and getting my online store setup. It’s required tons of hard work but I love every minute of it. So please when you get a chance check out my new blog and shop and tell me what you think!

I’m a the #AppleFanGirl4Life. Apple can do no wrong in my book. In the 4 years since I’ve switched from a pc to a Mac, I’ve never gotten a virus, and the only time my laptop has crashed was when I was in Barnes and Nobles, and I accidentally spilled hot green tea on it :-( I’m the proud owner of the iPhone 4, iPad, and Macbook Air. They are the air that I breath, and the wind beneath my wings. So… imagine my horror, when Dr. B (a supposed Apple devotee) decided to switch to the Samsung Galaxy S when it was time to upgrade his phone. My first thought was, “who is this man I married?…I don’t recognize him anymore.” Mr. Steve Jobs, I apologize if my husband has offended you, he knows not what he does.

I ordered a white iPhone 4S on Sunday!!!! I cannot wait to get my hands on this phone. The first thing I’ll ask Siri is, “is this my husband, or has he been replaced with an Android powered alien?” Only Siri can help me now. I feel sorry for Dr. B, he actually likes his big ole phone Samsung. Oh well, just wait until he hears me and Siri chatting it up…someone’s gonna be jealous… :-)

I’m not a big fan of traveling by car, not one bit. I prefer to travel by plane. I find that flying is quicker, less hassle, and often less expensive. But, when it comes to traveling to (my alma mater)University of Florida football games my first choice by far, is an RV. I was so against RV’s when Dr. B initially suggested it. I had visions of retired couples at Yellowstone. Not my type of fun. But, I’ll try anything once, and I’m so glad I did.

This is the real deal Holdyfield! It's a house on wheels!

Bernard's dream RV, a Class B diesel pusher.

An RV elevates your tailgating style to a whole ‘nother’ level. Most can sleep 4-10 people, so you drinking and driving isn’t an issue.

His and her recliners

The living room is big enough for me to do my Billy Blanks workouts!

Full size bed

RV’s even come with a fully equipped kitchen so you can save money by cooking instead of eating out.

Freezer and refrigerator

Gas stove, oven, and stainless steel sink

Hardwood floors and leather seating are standard in most RV’s

This dining room section converts to a bed!

This sofa converts to a bed!

RV’s have many other great features that makes it a home away from home… just perfect for tailgating!

Now, do you see why it wasn’t a hard sell to convince me?

This is the model we rented. A Class C, 32 Ft.

Were on our way to the FL vs GA football game! Were staying in RV City with the other UF tailgating faithfuls! Have a great weekend.

This weekend my husband and I took a short vacation to Nassau, The Bahamas. What a hugely fantastic time we had! My last trip to Nassau was in 2006, a day-long stop on a 4-day Caribbean cruise. I fell in love with this island nation the minute I set foot on its soil. I grew up at the beach, and so I have a deep love for all things tropical. One of my uncles told me last Christmas that a family member who is researching our family tree, mentioned that we have descendents from the islands. I would not be surprised if I in fact my family roots stem from the Bahamas. Both my husband’s mom and dad are from the Bahamas. So you see, it was like going home for us.

After we arrived, we stumbled across the 16th annual International Cultural Festival!! If you’re not familiar with The Bahamas, then you might not know that the island is home to Afro-Bahamians (black), Euro-Bahamians (white) and Indo-Bahamians (Asian/Indian) populations. The internationally diverse history of The Bahamas, makes for eye-opening and enriching experience. Additionally there is A sprinkling of Cubans, Spanish, Scottish, and Greeks! The festival exists to strengthened the bond between the Bahamians and its international residents:

The Festival fosters friendly relations and understanding between Bahamians and the international resident community. This high quality organic experience that emerged from members of the community has become an international signature event that serves to demonstrate just how diverse and cosmopolitan The Bahamas has become.

The Festival also provides a global platform for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration to encourage foreign countries to consider staging food and cultural weeks as well as host more trade missions to The Bahamas. Strategically, this makes The Bahamas a far more interesting and sophisticated place to live and visit by broadening and deepening the vacation experience and quality of life that’s available here.

It’s literally one big party! This was by far the best cultural/arts festival I have ever been to! The atmosphere was great, everyone was having a good time. We met tons of great people, ate too much great tasting food, and indulged in lots of Kalik (Bahamanian beer). I am definitely looking forward to going back.

A four-year research study found that gratitude contributes to a mutual process of relationship maintenance, in which each partner’s maintenance behaviors, perceptions of responsiveness, and feelings of gratitude feed back on and influence the other partner’s behaviors, perceptions, and feelings. In other words when a spouse felt gratitude towards the other, and they expressed that gratitude in some external way, this outward expression produced and influenced the other spouse’s feelings and behaviors of gratitude. This process between the two spouses was like a continuous feedback loop because gratitude motivates partners to engage in relationship maintenance.

Feeling gratitude without expressing it, is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

After reading this article, I started thinking about my relationship with my husband. I examined my acts of gratitude and relationship maintenance. I believe I am consistent and sincere when I express how much I appreciate him and everything he does for me. I am conscious of my behavior simply because my husband constantly shows me gratitude and I want to do the same to him. Actually he is good at showing everyone (who deserves it) gratitude. Anyone that knows him will attest to that. Based on this research, I’m sure that I conscientiously show him gratitude in many ways, because it is a natural response to his gratuitous behavior towards me.

So, the next time someone does something nice for you, don’t forget express your gratitude…it’s as easy as saying Thank You!

What time frame constitutes being a newlywed? 1 year, 2 years, 1.5 years? Dr. B and I have been married for 1 year and 5 months. Are we till considered newlyweds…or is the honeymoon – over? For whatever reason I’ve been thinking about how much longer we have before our Newlywed status runs out. When it does, I will have to change the name of my blog. Am I late already in that regard? I’m not one to mislead readers, and hold faux claim to a title that I’m no longer eligible for. When does one said couple transition from newlywed status to just being – married?

Like this:

has badarse amenities! This community have an onsite concierge, movie theater, cocktail hour twice a month, and aqua aerobics classes, dry cleaning services, etc… Even with all that, one of my favorite features is the 7th floor clubhouse. No, it’s not your ordinary clubhouse. It’s like a member’s only lounge, minus the bartender and waitresses :-). The other night Dr. B and I went up to the clubhouse to hang out, having a few drinks and chill. I took a few pictures…